Apple releases fix for Mac Pro audio-based performance issues

Apple Thursday afternoon released a fix for an issue that would significantly decrease the performance of 2009-era Mac Pros with Nehalem-based Intel Xeon processors.

The issue, well-publicized just over a week ago, caused a 20 percent performance hit when playing audio in Mac OS X. Playing audio through iTunes or a number of other applications could also cause CPU temperatures to double.

To address the problem, Apple released "Mac Pro Audio Update 1.0." The 1.64MB update, available for download from Apple, requires Mac OS X 10.6.2 or later.

While previous reports claimed the issue applied to Mac Pros released in both early and late 2009, Apple said Thursday's update was for desktop systems released in the first half of the year. The update reportedly reduces processor utilization during audio activities, such as playing or recording music.

Various user test found that running Windows 7 via Boot Camp eliminated the issue, leading some to believe the issue is related to power management kernel extensions in Mac OS X.

Apple's Mac Pros with Intel Xeon processors based on the Nehalem architecture were introduced in March 2009. in December, Apple added a 3.33GHz quad-core option.

Recent reports have suggested Intel's new six-core "Gulftown" processor could be headed to the Mac Pro in a future upgrade. Apple could stick with the workstation-focused Xeon line of chips, though some rumors have suggested Apple could switch to the new Core i7-980X processor, based on the same architecture.

Recent reports have suggested Intel's new six-core "Gulftown" processor could be headed to the Mac Pro in a future upgrade. Apple could stick with the workstation-focused Xeon line of chips, though some rumors have suggested Apple could switch to the new Core i7-980X processor, based on the same architecture.

The issue, well-publicized just over a week ago, caused a 20 percent performance hit when playing audio in Mac OS X. Playing audio through iTunes or a number of other applications could also cause CPU temperatures to double.

I'm suspecting this issue is because of Snow Leopard and Grand Central, does it also occur in Leopard?

I don't know what it is about Apple with their "Pro" towers and audio issues, my PowerMac G5 dual processor had all kinds of feedback from the audio channel and that insistent beeping with NAP mode was quite a royal pain in the @ss.

Very fast machine though for the time, like two fast computers in one box, very impressive.

The danger is that we sleepwalk into a world where cabals of corporations control not only the mainstream devices and the software on them, but also the entire ecosystem of online services around...

I'm suspecting this issue is because of Snow Leopard and Grand Central, does it also occur in Leopard?

I don't know what it is about Apple with their "Pro" towers and audio issues, my PowerMac G5 dual processor had all kinds of feedback from the audio channel and that insistent beeping with NAP mode was quite a royal pain in the @ss.

Very fast machine though for the time, like two fast computers in one box, very impressive.

Ok this sucks for me. I'm stuck on Leopard on my 8 core 2.66 because there isn't a full blown PHP package I can install for all the modules and can't afford the downtime to manually install everything. So I'm stuck on a machine that is constantly running at 58* celsius running leopard. Thanks apple. So much for support on your 2 year old OS.

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The reason why they are analysts is because they failed at running businesses.

Ok this sucks for me. I'm stuck on Leopard on my 8 core 2.66 because there isn't a full blown PHP package I can install for all the modules and can't afford the downtime to manually install everything. So I'm stuck on a machine that is constantly running at 58* celsius running leopard. Thanks apple. So much for support on your 2 year old OS.

Hey, you can't say you weren't warned over and over as they did the same thing to customers with other products. You've just got to remember that they dropped the 'Computer' from the name for a reason. Nobody expects product support for a fashion accessory.

Hey, you can't say you weren't warned over and over as they did the same thing to customers with other products. You've just got to remember that they dropped the 'Computer' from the name for a reason. Nobody expects product support for a fashion accessory.

Bad troll. No donut.

Pity the agnostic dyslectic. They spend all their time contemplating the existence of dog.

Ok this sucks for me. I'm stuck on Leopard on my 8 core 2.66 because there isn't a full blown PHP package I can install for all the modules and can't afford the downtime to manually install everything. So I'm stuck on a machine that is constantly running at 58* celsius running leopard. Thanks apple. So much for support on your 2 year old OS.

This was posted over in the MacRumors thread. Don't know if it's any help to you, but check it out.